So my boss has made it very clear that nothing business related should be posted on the Quality Air Conditioning page, by Quality Air Conditioning. So that doesn’t leave me much to go with. Right now we only have 24 likes (we haven’t been up that long) and getting anyone to engage in a conversation is ridiculously hard. But that could have something to do with the fact that all I can think to post is weather related or “What are everyone’s plans this weekend?” Boring, right? So what can I throw out there to bring some of our viewers in to conversate?

I have been considering a contest, but that’s completely up to the boss lady, whom I do not near nearly enough to discuss these things with.

Any thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Hi  @qactyler, I work with a waste water management company so I face the same challenge. Here is what I do:

• EPA: http://www.epa.gov/gateway/learn/airpollution.html for stuff like: 
  • Which places have the best and worst air quality?
  • What are the biggest sources of mercury air emissions in the U.S.?
  • How can I find out how much air pollution is released by a certain process?  Where can I find emissions factors?
• Check out the sites on electric cars. Especially if it is coming to your area.

• Vechicle emission testing: http://www.dmv.com/pa/pennsylvania/emissions-testing
• Put a Ping on your local paper for air control so it will email you if there is an article about it.
• Have a Wacky & Weird Wednesday way you share some of the Did you knows about air quality like this story: Global Cows and Cars.
   http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/story?id=2723201&page=1#.T3RerGFukoo
• Check out these topics:  Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming, 
• Link to all the sites in your area that are environmental. Link to mine to and I will Like yours.  https://www.facebook.com/ebscorp

She doesn’t even want us to post a weather forecast because it’s in some way shape or form related to an AC or heater. I’m just lost!

@kimkline is right!  And your boss is wrong or you took the boss too literally.  How can you, and why would you, have a business page without posting business-related items from the business?  It is not spam if it is relevant to the business.  There are lots of things that you can post about that people might find interesting enough to include you in their newsfeeds, ie: become and remain Fans.  Your boss may have over-reacted to the mantra that you have to make your Page about your customers as opposed to your business.  Just don’t try too hard to sell. Show your company as one of concern and compassion, tell people how to save energy, include links to other energy-saving products, ask people how they save energy in their homes. Talk about air and water quality. Talk about the environment. Talk about senior and low-income assistance programs. Point out the advantages of scheduled maintenance. You can occasionally include something promoting your business. After all, don’t people benefit from doing business with you? Tell them how, once in a while.

wow….good luck…. i think its a wierd plot….but   how about  talking to her again and  seeing what she has in  mind..maybe  she has  seen something    she  could  show  you…. 

.. would  jokes and   inspiration and  cute  kittens     really draw anyone to  an airconditioning  business?  

@qactyler

Sarah,
I know of a few businesses that do their social media very similar to the way you’re describing.  It’s the “no-sell” approach and it does work however I know the challenges on coming up with interesting content to post.  One thing that I do for local businesses is post information about the area.  
Recently, there was a Home & Garden show locally and simply asked people if they were excited about the event.  We got tons of feedback and likes from many local Facebook users.  
I checked out your page and see you are on the right track.  A few suggestions that might help you get more engagement and likes:

• Use the city name in your posts so you’re more visible to your local audience.
• When you post about the weather, you can offer suggestions on things to do.  For small business clients, I follow the local chamber of Facebook because they often have a lot of info on upcoming events and I also follow that state’s tourism site to find out cool places to visit.  (This is especially helpful for me since many of my clients are out of state)
• Can you share blog posts?  It could direct more traffic to your website and although it may be “business related”, your posts offer information that people would find helpful.  Which leads me to my next point….
• I completely understand where your boss is coming from and I take a no-sell approach myself as I’ve done sales and don’t know anyone that likes to be pitched however maybe helping your boss to understand that it doesn’t need to be about selling but sharing information that could be really useful to your market could further develop the relationship.

@qactyler I would avoid the personal page. The reason is: whose personal page? And what do you do if that person decides to leave for whatever reason?

Another thought:
- Do you have businesses that you interact with for HVAC purposes? If so, you could make them “Featured Friends” or something. Once a week, you get some photos, or video, of a company you did an install for, and ask them to talk about what they do and give a tour. You can send out a letter to all of your clients asking them if this is okay, and say that everyone who says “YES!” will go up on the FB page.

Why?
1. It shows happy customers.
2. By agreeing to do this, they are thinking free promotion (and most assuredly pitch it that way), but what it is for the watcher is an endorsement. “They hired them for HVAC, and then invited them in to say hello afterwards, they must have done a good job!” No one would agree to a video or photographs of their facility if they didn’t like the person doing it right?

That would be my suggestion.

Jason

So creating a personal type page named “Quality AC” is against the rules? I really should read those things. :p

I totally agree with Andrea.  Your efforts must contribute in some way to your marketing objectives, which includes your branding.  You want to be known for something, right? If you are going to be the company that gives useful information about the community (excellent suggestions @iamconsulting) then so be it, but I think it’s important that your core message is consistent.